Causes and consequences of biotic interactions within microbiomes

An integrative pattern-process-mechanism approach is revealing the roles of biotic interactions in microbiome assembly. Patterns of microbiome diversity observed in metagenomic studies can be partly explained by interaction processes (e.g. competition, facilitation) and underlying molecular or genetic mechanisms (e.g. antibiotic production, nutrient cross-feeding). Exciting opportunities remain to fully understand the significance and generalizability of biotic interactions within microbiomes. Many microbial interactions have been studied by chasing easily quantifiable phenotypes including changes in growth or pigmentation, but it is likely that diverse cryptic interactions occur without obvious growth changes or macroscopic phenotypes. A narrow phylogenetic breadth of well-studied microbes limits our understanding of whether there are conserved genetic or molecular mechanisms of microbial interactions. Biotic interactions can impose strong selective pressures that could shape rates and modes of microbial evolution, but few studies have examined the evolutionary consequences of interactions within microbiomes. Continued exploration of the chemical and genetic mechanisms underlying biotic interactions may provide novel tools to manipulate and manage microbiomes.